Cybersecurity: Technological sovereignty brings agreements among EU countries

In the Cybersecurity Commission, European countries reached an agreement on Thursday, 12 March, to allocate a minimum of 5% of the EU budget to strengthen technological independence. 

The Netherlands and France proposed an amendment after an earlier version suggested by Hungary and Italy was rejected. The new proposal states that EU members should invest at least 5% of the budget, with a focus on artificial intelligence, microchip production, data storage, European search engines, and the development of quantum computing. The delegations also emphasized the importance of providing subsidies to national companies innovating in the cybersecurity sector.

At the heart of the debate was Europe’s dependence on technological advances from the US and China. Reducing this reliance would strengthen the EU’s global position, a necessity in today’s geopolitical climate. The Dutch delegation stated : “We are mostly, if not entirely, dependent on the US and China, and we must act now so that they stop underestimating us”. Latvia supported the Netherlands by highlighting that the increasing digitalization of the world represents a major opportunity for European companies. Greece also welcomed the proposal, noting that investing in “our own companies” could accelerate innovation and be profitable for all EU members. The Netherlands cautioned, however, that focusing too much on smaller companies instead of larger ones could slow down innovation, urging careful implementation. The amendment was eventually passed with broad support.

Technological sovereignty remains a priority for most EU countries. 

After lengthy discussions, member states were able to reach a consensus and approve the amendment proposed by the Netherlands and France.